COPPER ZINC RATIO AND SYSTEMIC OXIDANT LOAD - EFFECT OF AGING AND AGING-RELATED DEGENERATIVE DISEASES/

There is evidence that copper and zinc have pro-oxidant and antioxidan t properties, respectively, so that their imbalance may be expected to condition oxidative stress status. Oxidative stress is relevant in ag ing and in age-related degenerative diseases. In this study, blood con tent of copper, zinc, and ceruloplasmin as well as of lipid peroxides were investigated in 81 healthy and 62 disabled octo-nonagenarians aff ected by chronic degenerative diseases, and in 81 healthy adults. Seru m copper/zinc ratio and ceruloplasmin were significantly higher in the elderly than in the healthy adults. Moreover, all these parameters we re significantly higher in the disabled than in the healthy elderly. N otably, the increased copper/zinc ratio found in healthy elderly was d ue to high copper values, whereas in the disabled, both high copper an d low serum zinc concentrations were present. The copper/zinc ratio wa s significantly and positively related to systemic oxidative stress st atus in all groups. The higher the serum copper/zinc ratio the higher the lipid peroxides plasma content. We conclude that there is a strict relationship between copper/zinc ratio and systemic oxidant burden. M oreover, advanced age and, particularly, advanced age-related chronic degenerative diseases an associated with a significant increase in the copper/zinc ratio and systemic oxidative stress. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc ience Inc.